20 Tues. 17 Feb. 1953 Panama in sight at 6: A.M. Fruit boat + Spanish Freighter ahead of us. Mountains shrouded in clouds, A hazy sunrise. Coming in thru narrow breakwater Passage about 7:15. A dozen ships at anchor - saw first ships flying the "Red Duster" (British merchant flag). We had no birds following as we neared port. One jaeger outside; many laughing gulls inside, 2 or 3 jaegers, frigate birds, vultures, caspian tern. Tied up at very modern oil + coal wharf. Town only 200 yds. away by water but 3 miles by land! Mail came aboard (2+3 from Kay - + a Valentine; 2 from mother). Went birding ashore: catbird; med. sized flycatchers (gray + yellow); small, white line over eye, gray throat, yellow underparts; humming bird & green highlights over head back + wings - mixed w. brownish, long decurved bill (2 x s head); med. size dove (soft pinkish brown); reddish bird like cardinal; small dark bird - poor look at last birds. Found small mud flat with small sandpipers, red dragonflies + gray + yell, flycatchers. Boat-tailed grackles on wharf. Little blue heron on rocks. Spotted sandpiper - waterfront of Colon. A line of leaf-cutting ants walking along railroad track. (Mr. Coleman) Black termite nests in a few trees. Talked with gateman for a few minutes (a conservationist at heart - feeds birds). Wrote Kay another letter (have 14 letters to mail!). Geoff & I taxied to town at 2:30 - to post office. Today is last day of 4 Fiesta days. Geoff walked home, I followed one group of singers, dancers, maracas + native drum players for 1/2 mile. Keep wonderful rhythm. All rigged in home-made costumes. Trucks full of costumed children seeing the sights. Walked along